Gun.Smoke

Did You Know?

• The arcade soundtrack was composed by Ayako Mori.
• Alfa Records released a limited-edition soundtrack on August 25, 1986, featuring all arcade music plus two unused tracks (catalog number Capcom Game Music – 28XA-94).
• Two versions of Gun.Smoke were released in North America by Romstar.

Gameplay

Gun.Smoke is a run and gun game with automatic upward scrolling. Players use three buttons to shoot left, right, and center, and can alter Billie Bob's shooting via button combinations. Death occurs from gunfire, enemy contact, or being crushed between an obstacle and the screen bottom. Items include a horse for protection, boots for speed, bullets for faster shots, a yashichi for an extra life, and a rifle for extended range; stars, bottles, bags, and dragonflies give score bonuses.

Ports

Gun.Smoke was ported to the MSX, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC (as Desperado – Gun.Smoke, which received a sequel Desperado 2). It appeared on PlayStation and Sega Saturn via Capcom Generation 4, on PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Xbox via Capcom Classics Collection, on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 via Capcom Arcade Cabinet, and on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows as part of Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (referred to as Gan Sumoku). Windows 98 and Windows XP versions were in Capcom Arcade Hits Volume 3. The NES and FDS versions, released in 1988, feature a new storyline about the Wingates gang attacking Hicksville and different music.

Reception

Game Machine listed Gun.Smoke as the second most-successful table arcade unit in Japan in January 1986, while US Play Meter charts ranked it among the top five arcade games that month. It became Japan's sixth highest-grossing table arcade game in the first half of 1986. Frank Seninsky of Play Meter called it a top recommended conversion kit with great graphics. Computer and Video Games praised it as an excellent fast-paced shooter, better than light gun games like Hogan's Alley and Shoot Out.